Season 2021/2022 - A Look Back
August 2021 saw the return to football in John Hyland Park after a long hiatus due to Covid.
Overall all our teams had good seasons considering the lack of football the last few years.
We had two new U8 teams emerge from our academy this season, one Saturday, one Sunday. In their very first season this group has been absolutely fantastic and over the course of the season their development has been brilliant. A great bunch of kids too with some real characters!!! Keep up the good work boys and girls!!
Our U9s team got their first taste of weekly matches too. Playing on Sundays in the Blue league, the boys played some fantastic football throughout the season and are developing into a really good squad. The future so bright for them, they'll have to start wearing shades 
We had two U10s this season, both playing on Sundays, one of which was playing their very first season. We've seen both these teams take huge strides in their development since the start of the season. They've even put on a show or two along the way 
Next season will see their first taste of competitive football and they are already itching to get started!!
In our U11 category, we had 4 teams compete with two on Saturday and two on Sunday. This season was the groups first taste at competitive football with our Sunday A team competing in the league and all four teams competing in the DDSL League Cups. All four did very well and played their part in some cracking games. Bravo young sirs!!! Next year sees them transition again, this time to 9 a side football which we know they'll take in their stride.
Our U11E team did particularly well, making it all the way to the DDSL League Final in the AUL Complex. The boys gave everything on the day with goals from Evan Clarke and Adam Alcock Culligan but they just fell short, losing 3-2 to St John Vianney. Hats off to you boys and next time we are sure you will get your just rewards!!
The U12 age group had a great season. Coming very close to a league title in Sunday 12.2, the Saturday 12M team clinched their league title via a playoff against Finglas United.
The playoff win meant they completed the DOUBLE as they had huge success in the Tony Ryan cup. They were victorious with a 2-1 win over Park Celtic in the AUL Complex. St Francis did it the hard way coming back from 1-0 down with goals from Eoin Nugent and Padraig Cairns. Fantastic achievement boys 
The way this group took the transition from 7 a side to 9 a side is just amazing!!!
We had two U13 teams this season, one Saturday Inter and the other Saturday Major 1. Both teams had decent seasons finishing 9th and 3rd in their leagues.
Our U14 teams both played Saturday in Major 1 and 14A. Both teams had decent seasons finishing 7th and 8th in their leagues.
In the U15 age group, the U15 Sunday Div 2 team had huge success by winning a league title. The champs clinched the title with a game to spare after having only two losses all season. Congratulations lads, same again next season 
.
Our U15 Sunday Div 1 team came very close in their league, taking it all the way to the last game. They eventually finished runners up but gained promotion to Premier 2 next season. Well done lads!!!
The U15 Premier team had a great run in the SFAI Cup, making it to the semi-final. They were beaten by eventual winners Bellurgan United.
Our U16 Premier 1 team were going through a transition season with a new management team and they equipped themselves very well finishing 8th in their league.
The U17 Premier team had a good season finishing 7th in the league.
Our U18s narrowly missed out on the league title, coming down to the last game of the season. It was a very successful season none the less with victory in the DDSL Ferrari Cup and a great run in the Youths Cup.
Against Crumlin United in the Ferrari Cup final in Greenogue, St Francis won the game 2-1 with both goals coming from Mark Canavan.
They also reached the last 4 of the FAI Youths Cup, losing out to Douglas Hall AFC in Cork.
This is an exciting group of players who will no doubt have much more success in the future.
St Francis U19 EWFL team had a slow start to their season but finished very strongly winning 11 of their last 12 games to secure second spot. A great run in their current season has seen them reach the League Cup Final. Just go win it now girls
St Francis U20s delivered a Leinster Senior League title to the club. This talented group of players worked tremendously hard all season and all that work paid off in the end. Well done lads!!
Both senior sides gained promotion in the Leinster Senior League to Saturday Major 1 and Senior 1 Sunday.
Our Senior Sunday side had a tremendous run in the FAI Intermediate Cup, going all the way to the semi finals. Unfortunately they were beaten on the day by Bluebell United, finishing 2-0.
